Behind the Mediterranean Sea coast, in unspoilt rural Mallorca, in the south of the island, lies the country estate of the family of Spanish architect Mariana de Delás. Her family has owned this land for over five hundred years, which was formerly cultivated by farmers and shepherds. In the 1920s, Mariana’s great-grandfather built several small cottages and refuges on the site, so these men would have a place to sleep, seek shelter and store their equipment.
A few years ago, one of these traditional stone shelters became the favourite refuge of Mariana and her young family. Mariana runs her architectural firm from Madrid, Barcelona and Mallorca. The combination of the excitement of fast-paced city life and the peace and quiet of the countryside is something she has known all her life, and that’s the way she likes it. ---
The Iberian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea, separating the Balearic Islands from the Iberian peninsula. Menorca is the second largest island in this sea – its name derives from its size and the Latin ‘insula minor’, meaning ‘smaller island’, compared to Mallorca. Menorca is a fairly rocky island: the sea has formed many caves along its coastline with gorges, caverns and shrubs contributing to the unpolished appearance of the rugged landscape.
During a holiday on the island, Antón García-Abril and Débora Mesa, who are both architects, became intrigued when they spotted a property for sale with what looked like a series of caves on its fringe. Instead of caves, however, they discovered a small abandoned quarry for marés stone, a sandstone from which nearly all the preindustrial - and some more recent - buildings on Menorca have been built. Once inside the quarry, they found that it had been partitioned into rooms, and there even was a kitchen.
Their location in the middle of the Iberian Sea makes the Balearic Islands a popular holiday destination. Together they form an autonomous region of Spain, although each of the four inhabited islands has its unique character and image. Ibiza has two images actually: it’s famous for its nightlife but is also a serene sanctuary. The northern part of the island, in particular, is very tranquil, with dreamy landscapes, small idyllic bays and cliffs, and unique views of the blue sea.
Rozemarijn and Pierre like to share the island experience with others, and have been welcoming guests at their house ever since they moved in. Then one day they found themselves opening a boutique hotel nearby. Becoming hoteliers was never the plan, but the hotel found them, more than the other way around. It was standing there alone and abandoned, right on the waterfront, next to the island’s tallest lighthouse. It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful location – you can enjoy both the sunrise and sunset there – and it felt like such a waste to leave the building standing empty. These days the hotel, called Los Enamorados, is brimming with energy and creativity. It’s quite small, with just nine rooms, a restaurant, and a shop, and it has a wonderfully inspiring but unpretentious bohemian décor.
Yucatán
Mexico
The harbour of Telchac Puerto on the Gulf of Mexico played a fascinating role in the history and Mayan culture of the Yucatán peninsula. It once was the main port for exports of henequen, a type of agave plant grown by the Mayas in Yucatán for its leaf fibre (sisal) from which all kinds of objects can be made, such as rope, baskets, bags, hammocks, and rugs. Henequen production peaked between about 1876 and 1919, bringing great wealth to the region. Bales of this ‘green gold’ were shipped to the US and Europe in large quantities from ports like Telchac until the invention of plastic signalled the industry’s demise.
From one day to the next, the beautiful beachfront warehouses in Telchac Puerto, where the henequen was stored, became deserted as all trading activities ceased. Today, one of them is ‘Miramar’, Luna Patrón Le Doux’s beach villa. This enchanting property has been in her father’s family for several generations. It was renovated piecemeal, and the structure was modified where necessary to transform it into a home while retaining the building’s historical essence.
You feel that connection to the primal power of the sea inside the house. The interior is reminiscent of a large sailboat, thanks to the many wooden elements, bright blue and red colour accents, model ship hulls on the walls and a large shell collection. Luna’s parents were keen mariners, sometimes spending days at sea on their sailboat. That is also what makes Miramar such a personal place and a safe haven for all those who dock there.
A fishing boat drifting on the Indian ocean, off the spectacular pristine coast of Lamu Island: in a film about the life of Daniella Blattler, this would be a key scene. The photographer and creative entrepreneur, who originally hails from Switzerland, set foot on Lamu Island fifteen years ago, with a head full of dreams and a heart full of love. To cope with the grief of a breakup soon after, Daniella took to the water with her camera. Her intention was to document the lives of the traditional fishermen of Lamu Island, and that is how she ended up on Ali Omar’s fishing boat. ---
THANK YOU
We are deeply grateful to everyone who welcomed us into their homes for this book. Coordinating our itinerary with your schedules was sometimes a challenge, but we’re so glad it always worked out. On a few occasions, we were even lucky enough to stay for a few days, which was a real privilege. Thank you for your hospitality, flexibility, and trust, as well as for the enthusiasm you showed from the moment we asked to photograph your home. We are very happy with the outcome and hope you are as well.
Special thanks to Adam who was such a big help with the ‘dancing’ sheets and the big kites in Ibiza.
Mirjam and Frank
BY
THE SEA
Inspiring coastal houses and refuges
Photography
Mirjam Bleeker
Styling & Artwork
Frank Visser
Production
Mirjam Bleeker & Frank Visser
Graphic Design
Madeleine Wermenbol
Words
Hadewijch Ceulemans & Frank Visser
Translation & Editing
Sandy Logan
D/2024/12.005/17
ISBN 9789460583698 NUR 450, 454
©2024 Luster Publishing (Antwerp), Mirjam Bleeker & Frank Visser
www.lusterpublishing.com info@lusterpublishing.com @lusterbooks